Hay or load binder.



Patented Dec.Yl8, I900.

F GARDNER HAY UR LOAD BINDER. (Apph 'e' nfll dA g 23 1900IIII'IIIIIIIIIII- l A A A AW' II "I 6 .I g g g g "um III (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK GARDNER, OF THORNTON, ILLINOIS.

HAY OR LOAD BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 664,255, dated December18, 1900.

Application filed August 25, 1900. eerial No. 27,968. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, FREDERICK GARDNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Thornton, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Hay or Load Binders; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of spring-poledevices that are more especially intended for use on farm-wagons insecurely binding on leads of hay, grain in sheaf, straw, and the like,and has for its object to provide a convenient and efficient arrangementof this character that may be drawn very tightly and be easilymanipulated by one person.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a part elevation and partlongitudinal section of a wagon-bed embodying the improved features.Figs. 2 and 3 are broken-away sectional details showing the pawl locking mechanism in two different positions. Fig. 4 is a detached detail of arotatable winding-shaft. Fig. 5 is a broken-away top plan. Fig. 6 is adetached elevation of a manipulating-lever, and Fig. 7 is a detachedview in perspective of a ratchet-wheel.

A may represent the bed-frame or bottom of a wagon or similar vehicle,the usual hay or wagon rack being omitted. The two 1ongitudinal sidebars B and O are connected at their front ends by a transverse round 8,to which is attached the lower part of a rope sling 9, the upper part ofwhich is looped over the front end of the binder-pole 10. A rotatablebinding or winding shaft 11 has its respective ends journaled in therear ends of the side bars B and O. The lower part of a binding-rope 12is coiled on shaft 11, the upper end being attached to the rear springend of the binder-pole, as shown in Fig. 1. A double ratchet-wheel 13is, rigidly mounted on the square portion" 14 of shaft 11. One

end of a spring-pawl 15 is properly secured to the inner side of theside bar B, the opposite loose end of the pawl being adapted to engagethe outside teeth 16 on the ratchetwheel. One end of a plate 17 ispivoted to Figs. 2 and 3.

the under side of the pawl 15, as at 18; This plate is adapted to beswung around into either of the two opposite positions shown in I Asshown in Figs. 2 and 5, the loose end of the pawl rests in engagementwith the ratchet-teeth 16, the upturned end 19 of the plate 17 beingswung inwardly. When the binder-shaft is to be rotated in the oppositedirection, as against the locking action of the pawl, the plate17isswuug around into the position shown in Fig. 3, which raises thepawl up out of engagement, the turnedup end of plate 17 resting on topof the ratchet-wheel and permitting of the bindershaft being rotatedinwardly to relax the pressure of the binding mechanism on the load.

A manipulating-lever 20, Fig. 6, is loosely mounted on the binder-shaftand is provided on the side adjacent to the ratchet-wheel with a tooth21, adapted to be brought into successive engagement with the teeth 22on the inner end of the ratchet-Wheel. The space between the teeth 22 iscut away inwardly, so as to present the oblique wall 23 with referenceto the plane of axis in order to provide for the lateral movement of theengaging end of the lever 20. A collar 24, adjustably mounted on thebinder-shaft, limits the lateral movement of the manipulating-lever whendisengaging from the ratchet-wheel.

In Fig. 1 all the parts are shown in their working position to bind on aload, the lever for rotating the binder-shaft being shown in its highestposition. Moving the lever outwardly and downwardly rotates the shaftapproximately one-fourth of a revolution. The lever is then movedlaterally, disengaged, and returned to its vertical position to engagethe next tooth, and so on continuously, which has the effect of windingup the rope 12 and drawing the rear end of the binderpole down inexerting the required pressure in binding on a load. By this simplearrangement a greater pressure can be applied mechanically than by handand the work done with ease and facility and without the usualannoyance, danger, and delay which attend the ordinary hand devices.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

In a load-binder for vehicles, the combinaand means forconnecting therear end of said 10 tion with the bed-frame, of a rotatable shaft, polewith the rotatable shaft, substantially a ratchet-wheel, rigidly mountedthereon, a as described.

pawl, locking said ratchet-wheel against ro- In testimony whereof Iaifix my signature 5 tation in one direction, means for holding inpresence of two witnesses.

said pawl out of engagement, a lever, adapt- FREDERICK GARDNER.

ed to engage said ratchet in rotating said Witnesses:

shaft, a binder-pole, means for connecting L. M. FREEMAN,

the front end of the pole with the bed-frame, L. B. GOUPLAND.

